Transcript Highlights:

• Mcferson will be Zachary Johnson, the city engineer of the city of Lakeville. Mr.
• I'm the chief officer of transportation and county engineer for Anoka County.
• I didn't know our city engineer was going to be here, but I'm proud to have him here with us.
• My name is Zach Johnson, Lakeville city engineer.
• My name is Zach Johnson, Lakeville city engineer.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You can kind of see these two Yaker 633 KW engines here on the side of the graphic. that we purchased
• <00:43:26.720> 63<00:43:27.119> 33<00:43:27.480> KW<00:43:27.920> engines
• <00:43:28.359> here<00:43:28.520> on yaker engines 63 33 KW engines here on yaker engines
• , probably likely be a million to a million and a half for another engine the same size as ours.
• source and we can invest in a new engine probably<00:54:11.640> likely<00:54:11.960> be

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the city engineer for the city of Brooklyn Park.
• engineer for the city of Brooklyn Park. engineer for the city of Brooklyn Park.
• of that. represent the Minnesota County Engineers represent the Minnesota County Engineers Association
• <01:40:26.000> have current policy and county engineers have current policy and county engineers
• My city uh engineer at the time ideas.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Doctors, engineers, career building.
• this engineers, female engineers who do this engineers, female engineers who do this work.<01:22
• :23:25.600> but<01:23:25.920> push engineering job is tough, but push engineering job is
• senior engineer, well, wait a minute. senior engineer, well, wait a minute.
• . engineering. engineering.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I recently earned my bachelor's and master's degrees in biomedical engineering from ASU, and I'm pursuing
• a PhD in biomedical engineering, working as a full-time graduate researcher this summer.
• During my time at ASU, I've served as a teaching assistant for 12 engineering courses, as an elected
• How do you think your degrees in engineering can help shape your role as a student regent?
• I believe that my background in engineering gives me a lens of problem-solving that I can bring to the

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met, approved the March 25, 2026 minutes, and considered two executive nominations. First, the committee heard testimony from Aidan Kane Vaux, nominated as a student regent for the Arizona Board of Regents. Vaux described his background as an ASU biomedical engineering graduate student and researcher, his teaching and mentoring experience, and his interest in representing students. Senators asked about how his engineering training would inform board service, student concerns about tuition and cost transparency, expanding STEM and health care education, mental health resources, and improving educational access in rural Arizona. Vaux said he would bring a problem-solving, data-driven perspective and emphasized affordability, student support, rural outreach, and broader access to research and health-related opportunities. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Andrea Marasota Snow, nominated to the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education. Snow said she serves as Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer at Pima Medical Institute and would use her legal and regulatory experience to help the board with licensing, complaint review, compliance, and student protections. She emphasized balancing institutional growth with oversight and protecting students through the Student Tuition Recovery Fund and other safeguards. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate. Before adjourning, members thanked staff and nominees, and the chair noted Senator Diaz’s birthday. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the national level, we were at the Engineering News-Record Seattle Infrastructure Forum, which we
• We'll absolutely look at ways in which we may be able to conduct explorations of value engineering and
• That, you know, use of a general engineering consultant is something that both states have done for a
• But we, as to understand soil conditions, engineers will take cranes out and use a drill mechanism to
• I'm a professional engineer and certified public accountant for 40 years.

Summary: The Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee met for a work session and public hearing on the Interstate 5 bridge replacement program. Program staff outlined major milestones, including the recent biological opinion, the Coast Guard’s opening of a public comment period on the Navigation Impact Report, expected decisions in early 2026 on navigational clearance and the final supplemental environmental impact statement, and a possible amended record of decision in 2026. They also discussed the Bridge Investment Program grant amendment deadline, the need for an initial finance plan, and ongoing community outreach and contractor engagement. Greg Johnson announced he was stepping down as program administrator, and Carly Francis introduced herself as interim administrator. A large portion of the meeting focused on design and cost questions. Staff said the program is studying fixed and movable spans, single- and double-deck configurations, and one versus two auxiliary lanes, with final recommendations to be made through the federal environmental process. They said the Coast Guard’s decision is central to what bridge configuration is permittable and to the timing of the updated cost estimate, which has not yet been released. Members pressed for more detail on cost drivers, potential impacts to businesses upriver, and whether the states would need to seek additional funding. Staff said they had reached agreements with four impacted river users, but the underlying evaluation materials are protected and not publicly releasable. The committee also reviewed transit-related questions. Staff explained that light rail remains part of the modified locally preferred alternative and that ridership and operations estimates are being updated using federal modeling methods. They said projected opening-day transit operations and maintenance costs have dropped from an earlier estimate of $21.8 million to about $10.3 million annually because the current model assumes lower frequency, with Oregon and Washington shares split by geography and fare recovery. Members raised concerns about TriMet’s financial stability and the need for a funding plan by fall 2027, ahead of a planned federal transit funding application in fall 2028. During public testimony, several speakers criticized the delay in releasing a new cost estimate and argued the project scope should be reduced if costs continue to rise. Testifiers from City Observatory and the Just Crossing Alliance said the project appears to be avoiding bad news, urged the committee to consider scope reductions, and questioned whether the active transportation and freeway components align with the project’s core purpose. The meeting ended with thanks to Johnson for his service and a transition to public hearing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional option, $50 million for engine replacement— is that for most of these ships?
• Is that per engine, or is that for the entirety of the engine replacement program?
• I believe it is generally for the two-engine boats, the cost. More questions.
• An engine retrofit would be about 50 million.
• I'm the state bridge and structures engineer.

Summary: The committee received a detailed staff presentation on Washington State Ferries’ capital needs, current fleet status, and long-range funding outlook. Staff described the current service pattern, ridership recovery since the pandemic, the aging fleet, and the state’s plan to add three new hybrid-electric Olympic-class vessels under the 2025 budget, with delivery expected around 2030-2032. Members also heard that the fleet is operating with no reserve vessel, that preservation time is below the desired level, and that terminal electrification and vessel conversion plans face timing, cost, and procurement risks. Questions focused on ridership trends, biofuel supply, design-risk allocation in vessel contracts, sequencing of terminal electrification with new vessel delivery, and the cost and feasibility of restoring international Sidney service, which would require a SOLAS-certified vessel. Staff then outlined ferry capital funding, saying recent spending and programmed needs are far above regular ferry-specific revenues and that the system relies on a mix of dedicated accounts, transportation package money, federal grants, and transfers. They said the near-term budget is balanced through 2027-29, but the longer-term capital outlook shows a shortfall of roughly $250 million to $300 million per biennium, with broader unmet needs much higher. The presentation estimated costs for future vessels, life extensions, terminal electrification, and additional Jumbo Mark II conversions, and noted that the current enacted plan does not fully fund fleet replacement, full electrification, or life extension of older vessels. Members asked for follow-up information on terminal seismic/environmental issues, contract options for additional vessels, and the timing and cost of alternative vessel designs. The committee then shifted to WSDOT maintenance and preservation. Pascoe Focktich described maintenance operations, including winter response, guardrail repair, facilities, equipment, and the effects of underfunding and inflation. He said most of the maintenance budget is fixed cost and labor, that material prices have risen sharply, and that many facilities are in poor condition with asbestos issues and deferred upkeep. He also noted growing guardrail damage, increasing pavement claims, and the burden of maintaining aging bridges and facilities. Members asked about prior planning for these needs, the role of asbestos, and whether more proactive sequencing could help budget decisions. Troy Suing then presented the highway preservation program, saying WSDOT is in the early stages of critical failure and has stretched preservation dollars as far as possible. He explained the distinction between pavement, bridge, and other highway asset preservation, said the department is largely reactive, and estimated that delaying work can make it three to five times more expensive later. He said about 40% of roadways are currently due or overdue for preservation, bridge conditions are nearing the federal poor-bridge threshold, and the department’s 10-year preservation need is about $8 billion. Members asked about the cost of deferring work, whether the department could do more if funded, how priorities are set, and whether other states face similar problems. Finally, Evan Grimm and Mike Fay briefed the committee on bridge strikes by overheight vehicles. They described recent incidents on I-90 near Cle Elum and SR 410 near White River, the damage and closures caused, and possible countermeasures such as public outreach, improved trip-planning tools, and a pilot warning system with sensors and flashing beacons. Fay explained the state’s financial recovery process for third-party damage, saying WSDOT recovers roughly $20 million per biennium and about 78% to 80% of billed damages, with money going to the motor vehicle fund. Members asked about prevention, insurance recovery, and whether the state uses claim data to inform future design or safety changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the director of Workforce and Community Development for Operating Engineers Local 49.
• Uh, we're here today to talk about the Operating Engineer High School pathway program, a program that
• I am the director of Workforce and Community Development for Operating Engineers Local 49.
• Uh, we're here today to talk about the Operating Engineer High School pathway program, a program that
• Uh, we're here today to talk about the Operating Engineer High School pathway program, a program that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and contract administration engineering and contract administration by<00:03:32.640> meeting<
• It also, for a lot of these, requires Corps of Engineers approval as we move forward.
• <00:27:23.520> construction architectural engineering construction architectural engineering
• It doesn't require architectural and engineer.
• You can do those with that engineer. You can do those with that P11. P11. P11.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Energy and Environmental Protection met at 9:00 a.m., approved the June 3 minutes, and heard a presentation from the Department of Parks and the Finance Cabinet on Kentucky State Parks capital projects. Commissioner Mark Keelin and Scott Baker described the scope of the state parks system, the ongoing coordination with DECA/Finance Cabinet, and the status of projects funded through House Joint Resolution 76, House Bill 553, House Joint Resolution 56, and House Bill 6. They said 36 of 44 state parks have received renovations or upgrades, with 66 projects completed and 17 under construction, and outlined work on campgrounds, utilities, wastewater systems, broadband, building systems, safety upgrades, ADA improvements, pools, golf courses, marinas, and lodge accommodations. The presenters highlighted several completed or active projects, including campground upgrades at Carter Caves, Ken Lake, and My Old Kentucky Home; utility and grid-resilience work at parks such as Kentucky Dam Village and Kincaid Lake; wastewater projects at parks including E.P. Tom Sawyer, Carter Caves, Dale Hollow, and Blue Licks Battlefield; and building and hospitality renovations at parks such as Lake Barkley, Baron River, and Cumberland Falls. They also noted completed playground upgrades, lock system replacements, beach refurbishment, and golf course improvements, and said the parks system is managing additional internal projects beyond those discussed. The department emphasized that parks often serve as sheltering locations during disasters and that infrastructure replacement is a high priority. Scott Baker then explained DECA’s role in managing the Commonwealth’s capital construction program, saying it oversees about 1,300 active projects across 28 cabinets and agencies, including 149 parks projects. He described DECA’s team-based approach, with dedicated project managers and field staff assigned to parks, and said monthly status meetings and more frequent check-ins are used to keep projects moving. In response to committee questions, Keelin and Baker said projects are assigned to DECA based mainly on the need for architectural or engineering services, while smaller or less complex work can be handled in-house by parks staff or the P11 construction crew. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ken Johnson, assistant state traffic engineer with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office
• of Traffic Engineering, testified.
• am Ken Johnson assistant State please I am Ken Johnson assistant State traffic<00:07:46.520> engineer
• with the Min with the traffic engineer with the Min with the Minnesota<00:07:48.680> Department
• thank you please proceed engineering thank you please proceed good<00:07:54.919> afternoon<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of Moses, Mass Organization of State Engineers and
• Moses represents over 4,000 scientists and engineers employed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• They are committed to providing Massachusetts with exceptional engineering services unmatched in both
• This bill would revise the Taxpayer Protection Act to include engineering and design services in the
• Private consultants continue to be awarded state contracts to perform engineering and design services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several bills. Senator Mike Moore supported S. 2185, which would delay implementation of the heavy-duty omnibus/advanced clean truck requirements while requiring the Commonwealth to purchase or lease electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2025; he argued the delay is needed because infrastructure, grid capacity, vehicle availability, and costs are not yet ready. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2156/H. 3318, which would require free menstrual products in public buildings, with advocates and students describing period poverty and the need to treat menstrual products like other basic restroom supplies. Senator John Keenan testified for S. 2158, a bill to let municipal light plants protect proprietary and competitively sensitive information from public disclosure while keeping board meetings and minutes open, saying it would help level the playing field against larger competitors. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2125/H. 3384, the language access and inclusion bill. Testimony from the AAPI Commission, Mass Speaks coalition members, Mass Appleseed, MLRI, ATASK, MAPC, the Boston Bar Association, Mass Advocates for Children, and others described barriers faced by limited-English-proficient residents in accessing MassHealth, DCF, courts, domestic violence services, schools, and other state services. Witnesses cited untranslated documents, inadequate interpretation, delays, and the burden placed on bilingual staff and children; several also pointed to recent federal moves toward English-only policy as making state action more urgent. Committee members asked questions about implementation, interpreter availability, and the role of technology and remote participation, and the chair noted the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and intended to be again. The committee also heard testimony on time-zone legislation. Dr. Karin Johnson, representing sleep medicine interests, supported H. 3405 for permanent standard time and opposed S. 2157 for permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time better aligns with circadian rhythms and health, while permanent daylight saving time would worsen morning darkness and sleep disruption. Members questioned the strength of the scientific evidence and discussed school start times, geography, and whether Massachusetts should align with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and testimony continued on additional bills as the session progressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't be a county engineer. without having an engineering degree.
• Chief Engineer. So you're asking why TxDOT?
• They are different from the Corps of Engineers' reservoirs.
• Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, has flood storage.
• Army Corps of Engineers.

Keywords: flooding, emergency response, communication systems, first responders, disaster management, Texas Water Development Board, regional planning, public safety

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on discussions around the recent floods in Texas, specifically addressing emergency preparedness, response coordination, and recovery efforts. Officials from various agencies provided testimonies on the challenges faced during the emergency, including issues with communication systems among first responders. Notably, the need for improved inter-agency communication and technology integration was emphasized, with recommendations for establishing regional communications units for better coordination during disasters. The audience included local government representatives and emergency management partners, who shared insights and experiences from the recent flooding events.

Transcript Highlights:

• they don't have to idle diesel engines they don't have to idle diesel engines at<00:17:12.559>
• Engineers are smart. Yeah. Engineers are smart. Yeah.
• We have a chemical engineering first hire, um, TJ, and then a software engineer.
• Uh where 300 engineers needed, right?
• are all those engineers going to go? are all those engineers going to go?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So engineers and planners and agency staff can move forward with certainty.
• ASCE is the nation's oldest engineering society, representing 160,000 civil engineers who serve as stewards
• engineers in ASCE nationally or internationally.
• engineers in ASCE nationally or internationally.
• engineers in ASCE nationally or internationally.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Capital Investment held its first meeting of the 2025 session with members and staff introducing themselves and describing their priorities. Senators from both parties repeatedly emphasized the goal of passing a strong bipartisan bonding bill this year, with several members noting that local projects were delayed after no bonding bill passed the previous year. Chair Housley also said the committee would not meet later that week and previewed an upcoming presentation from MMB on federal funds. The committee then heard a presentation from MMB’s Leah Corey and Anna Ming on Minnesota’s federal funding efforts. Corey explained that MMB’s federal funds team coordinates state efforts to maximize funding from IIJA, IRA, CHIPS, and related federal programs. She said Minnesota has secured about $12.3 billion in federal funding so far, including roughly $3 billion more since the last presentation, supporting about 1,800 projects statewide. Most of the funding is going to transportation, roads, and bridges, with other major areas including clean energy and weatherization. She also highlighted an interactive public dashboard showing projects by region and noted that much of the data reflects funds flowing through the state enterprise. Corey also discussed state match programs that helped unlock federal dollars, including the IIJA discretionary match fund, the State Competitiveness Fund, and the Forward Fund. She said $180 million in state match has unlocked about $1 billion in federal investment through the IIJA discretionary match fund, nearly $17 million in state investment has unlocked nearly $90 million in federal funding through the State Competitiveness Fund, and $124 million for the Forward Fund has unlocked nearly $1 billion in federal and private investment. Members asked whether more state dollars could have brought in more federal funds; Corey said she was not sure, but noted the IIJA match fund is expected to run out in the coming months. The presentation also focused on direct pay tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, which allow tax-exempt entities such as governments, nonprofits, school districts, and tribal nations to receive payments for eligible clean energy projects after they are completed. Corey said the state is building awareness and technical assistance around direct pay, including educational sessions and a tax expert resource. She also described Minnesota’s Green Bank, the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority, which is beginning to issue loans for projects such as community energy, nonprofit geothermal systems, and solar-plus-battery installations.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the line, I think, is our engineer.
• I'm the district engineer.
• I'm the district engineer.
• , or gas engines, or gas engines, relying<00:59:34.800> solely<00:59:35.520> on<00:
• engineering firm. engineering firm.

Bills: HF4156, HF3835, HF3995, HF4383, HF4091, HF4084, HF4311, HF198, HF4486, HF4302, HF4309, HF4032, HF3855, HF3673, HF4265, HF4012, HF4339, HF4298, HF3852

Keywords: infrastructure, wastewater, stormwater, Buhl, state bonds, appropriations, economic development, water infrastructure, grants, capital investment, funding, state regulation, Frazee, North River Drive, infrastructure improvements, HF4383, Minnesota capital investment, bonding bill, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• While we're prepared to commit local funds to cover the engineering and soft costs associated with the
• Well, actually, it was higher than today, and we received 185,000 just to do pre-engineering work on
• During my orientation of our city, I was introduced to, among others, our city engineer.
• I have with me our city engineer, our county engineer, Tim Erickson, to go over the project, but we're
• I'm also the County Engineer for Douglas County.

Bills: HF568, HF433, HF1689, HF3135, HF3137, HF3145, HF2887, HF2819, HF2802, HF2664, HF2267, HF799, HF800, HF3049, HF296, HF580, HF1438, HF1237

Keywords: special education, education funding, construction, Minnesota, regional educational programs, HF433, Cloquet Area Fire District, fire station, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, general obligation bonds, public safety, emergency services, fire protection, local infrastructure, Minnesota capital budget, DEED grant, municipal facilities, station construction

Transcript Highlights:

• They are part of our searchable engine on get there.
• And so more businesses are seeing that this is the perfect reversed engineering program for getting the
• You've got folks that are in different manufacturing engineering technology.
• technology or that would that would be in our engineering technology field.
• Because the state has a shortage of nursing talent and the work Force engine.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This deals with fuel for spark-ignition engine fuels, gasoline engine fuels, ethanol, and also blended
• This deals with fuel for spark-ignition engine fuels, gasoline engine fuels, ethanol, and also blended
• fuels and it deals with gasoline engine fuels and it deals with gasoline it<00:08:46.080> deals
• fuel and they were ignition engine fuel and they were published<00:10:24.839> in<00:10:25.000
• also providing higher octane engine also providing higher octane engine performance<00:20:54.640

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I'll identify myself: I'm Brian Olsen, the engineering assistant chief engineer of engineering
• I'm Brian Olsen I'm the engineering I'm Brian Olsen I'm the engineering assistant<00:16:07.760><
• chief engineer of engineering assistant chief engineer of engineering and<00:16:09.440> planning<
• I'm the county engineer up in Edwards. I'm the county engineer up in Park<03:26:15.640> County.
• are like myself, we have two engineers. are like myself, we have two engineers.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, a self-serving engine basically.
• You can't be a county engineer without having an engineering degree.
• Within this engine, however, whatever that engine is, it is extremely relevant in terms of its processing
• Army Corps of Engineers and GBRA.
• Army Corps of Engineers.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all